Vance Worley gave up nine hits and three runs in five innings against Boston.

Charles Krupa, Associated Press

Twins notes: Worley hopes adjustment has him back on track

Article by: La VELLE E. NEAL III

May 16, 2013 - 6:45 AM

Vance Worley on Friday won the first game of his American League career, but the righthander didn’t feel as if he had gotten over the hump.

He gave up three first-inning runs. He got through 5 ⅓ innings, giving up five runs on 11 hits. But his ERA is 7.15 — the highest of any AL pitcher with enough innings to qualify for the league leaders. Only San Francisco’s Ryan Vogelsong (7.78) had a worse ERA entering play on Wednesday.

‘‘I wasn’t happy, of course not. I’m a perfectionist, and this whole spring, it’s taken a lot longer than I would have liked to figure out what was wrong,” Worley said

Worley sought answers and went to the tape or, in modern terms, the iPad. Worley looked at some old outings and spotted a mechanical difference. He incorporated it into his bullpen session Monday, and it worked.

‘‘Everything was much cleaner. My arm speed was faster, and the ball was moving like it used to,” Worley said. ‘‘It’s just a matter of knowing where I need to start my pitch, and throwing it the way I’m supposed to, and if I do that, it’s going to move the right way. Just a small little glitch, but this last bullpen, I had sink and I had [break]. It wasn’t one or the other, it was together, and that’s what I’ve been missing.”

He had a second bullpen session Wednesday. Some pitchers have a second bullpen session between starts — at less than maximum effort — to fine-tune their command.

Worley is looking forward to his next start, scheduled for Friday against Boston.

Mastroianni not improving

Outfielder Darin Mastroianni, on the disabled list because of a stress reaction in his left foot, is not making progress. And the Twins might have to consider all options with him, including surgery.

Mastroianni had a protective boot removed from the foot last week but has been unable to run well. He took Wednesday off but is expected to test it some more this week.

“If it doesn’t improve we’re going to have to figure out what we’re going to do,’’ Twins assistant General Manager Rob Antony said.

Mastroianni, who was injured during spring training, is frustrated and eager to get back on the field. He would have been in line to get playing time when Aaron Hicks struggled early.

“Right now, I cannot run full speed for an extended amount of time,’’ Mastroianni said. “That’s where we are at.’’

He was asked for his feelings about needing surgery.

“I just want to do what will get me back on the field as soon as possible,’’ he said. “I don’t know what route that is going to be at this point.’’

Etc.

• After pitching a complete-game shutout last week, Class AAA Rochester righthander Kyle Gibson was replaced after three innings Tuesday. He gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk. Brad Steil, the Twins’ director of minor leagues, attended the game between Rochester and Durham. “He tried to be too fine at times,’’ Antony said. “There were some positives, but by and large it wasn’t too good of an outing.’’

• Twins catcher Joe Mauer is ranked as the 20th-highest-earning athlete in the United States in the upcoming edition of Sports Illustrated. In the annual Fortunate 50 ranking of the highest-earning pro athletes, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. made $90 million last year to rank No. 1. Mauer is listed as earning $25 million, which includes $2 million in endorsements.